Sevilla sack Vincenzo Montella after just four months in charge

By Joe Shread

Sevilla have sacked manager Vincenzo Montella after just four months in charge following their 2-1 defeat to Levante on Friday evening.

The Italian has been replaced until the end of the season by Joaquin Caparros, who previously coached Sevilla between 2000 and 2005.

The loss at Levante was Sevilla's ninth game without a win, leaving Montella's side seventh in La Liga and hanging on to a qualification place for next season's Europa League.

A Sevilla statement read: "Sevilla have dismissed Vincenzo Montella after the side's bad run of results.

Montella led Sevilla to a memorable win over Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Champions League last-16

"After a call from club chairman José Castro, (Caparros) did not hesitate in accepting control of the first-team squad, as the team pushes to achieve European football in the season's four remaining games."

Montella joined Sevilla in December, just one month after being sacked by Serie A side AC Milan.

In his short spell at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium, Montella led Sevilla to a memorable win over Manchester United in the Champions League to take his side into the quarter-finals.

He also took Sevilla to the Copa del Rey final - although they were then thrashed 5-0 by Barcelona.